New Blaze Orange Requirements

[wannafish2]

Hey everyone, Like all of you, I'm excited to get in the woods again! But, I just read the new blaze orange requirements in the regs on page 24 and want to ask a question for clarification.

If we don't have to wear blaze orange while hunting deer and are stationary, does that mean we have to wear a vest or something while moving towards our stand and then can remove the orange?

If so, then if we still hunt (as slow as I move to my stand it's almost "still")on the way to our stands we have to wear blaze orange? WTH?

Also, the new reg is listed under the Small Game Hunting section pertaining to blaze orange, so during rifle season if we hunt archery we can take our orange off in the stand?

Whats your take on it?

[chris63]

That law only pertains to Falconry and/or Archery(season) hunting.If you continue reading the regulations in the next paragraph it states that a hunter must wear a portion(50% above the waist and head) of blaze orange while a field during ALL gun deer hunting seasons.c63

[wannafish2]

I know it pertains to archery season, thats why I'm asking. I want to know how it affects me during my bow hunting season.

Archery season overlaps small game and rifle season. I did post it in the Archery forum right?

[chris63]

You have to wear at least one "article"of clothing that is blaze orange when hunting deer by archery since it coincides with small game hunting.This means when your not stationary.So if you stop walking you could hypothetically remove the blaze until you start moving again.c63

[Powerstroke]

I think its reads pretty plain to me. If you're moving, you need blaze on while archery hunting. Still hunting is still moving. If you decide to sit down, you can hide your blaze. If you start walking, you need blaze.

Personlly I think this is a stupid law and serves no purpose. I can't think of the last time a bowhunter was shot while walking to his stand. Its a solution to a problem that doesn't exist.

[Rippinlip]

You have to wear at least one "article"of clothing that is blaze orange when hunting deer by archery since it coincides with small game hunting.This means when your not stationary.So if you stop walking you could hypothetically remove the blaze until you start moving again.c63

Wow, this is new and I would not have been doing this in 2 weeks. Thanks for bringing this up.

Looks like the Elmer Fudd hat will be wore again....in September

[sticknstring]

Depressing. Didn't plan on taking orange out until November.

[Bear55]

Personlly I think this is a stupid law and serves no purpose. I can't think of the last time a bowhunter was shot while walking to his stand. Its a solution to a problem that doesn't exist.

Yep, pretty much a useless law and just another hoop to jump through. I guess I will just pin a patch of orange to my backpack or keep an orange glove in my bag.

[MUSKY18]

I guess it is what it is and although I agree and think it is stupid, I will just play the game and throw on my orange hat to and from the stand. Having spent more than 22 years in the army, I'm pretty used to seeing stupid rules and dealing with them!

[Jameson]

I'm not really sure what the new rule means specifically, but I do know the reason it was put in place is so that us archers can now legally shoot small game without orange on (at least while from a fixed position.) Before we needed orange as all small game hunters were required to have it on.

[Finlander]

It is another law that is too vague!

I read it as said earlier, that this only pertains to hunters taking small game!

It say's Except when hunting wild turkeys, migratory birds, racoons, predators, when hunting by falconry, trapping, or while hunting deer by archery while stationary!

Which means you don't have to wear blaze orange once you are at loaction to hunt!

Betchya the predator hunters would love to wear blaze orange while trying to sneak into position to hunt!

[bigbucks]

I would bet most small game is shot by guys in jeans & T shirts, so not sure what the big deal with orange is. I don't really worry about camo other than bowhunting or turkeys & ducks.

[InTheNorthwoods]

100% agree that this law is a solution to a problem that does not exist.

I'd like to know who the morons are that put this laws in place? I hope they aren't hunters; they're too stupid to trust with a weapon if we can't trust them with a pen in the legislature.

[Finlander]

I’m still confused as to what this say’s! Does this mean you can’t take small game while walking to you stationary location unless you’re wearing blaze orange, or you have to wear blaze orange no matter what your hunting whenever you’re moving around?

Does that also mean when you drop a goose and you have to retrieve it you have to wear blaze orange?

[theharvester]

i talked to the dnr about it some woman who has never hunted tried to justify this even though she couldnt come up with one case of a shooting . i said i jump shoot ducks and if a rooster gets up i cant shoot .what a crock!i argued for awhile then was transferred haha. if i want to walk in the woods hunting [out of rifle season of course] i shouldnt have to wear blaze orange to scare everything ahead of me. this is an example of the dnr hiring people who dont hunt to run the hunting side.

[candiru]

I don't know if I would blame the DNR. This sounds like something that would come out of the legislature. Although I could be wrong.

I do remember a couple of bowhunters being shot in trees about 20 years ago because they were mistaken for squirrels.

[Cheetah]

Stupid laws... Anyone know how to figure out who proposed and voted to put this law into the books?

[goblueM]

Guys, relax. Especially archery hunters. Just throw a blaze hat on when walking to and from your stand. Not a bad idea if you're on public land anyways...

[Finlander]

I bowhunt and waterfowl hunt! It just isn't clear as to what this laws intent!

[goblueM]

I actually decided to read the regs and it doesn't seem very confusing at all

Quote:

Small Game Seasons: You may not take small game unless a visible portion of at

least one article of clothing above the waist is blaze orange, except when hunting wild

turkeys, migratory birds, raccoons, predators, when hunting by falconry, trapping, or

while hunting deer by archery while stationary.

So, you can be 100% camo and shoot small game from your treestand or ground blind with archery tackle.

You also do not have to wear blaze orange when hunting migratory waterfowl.

Seems pretty black and white to me

As for the original post, you quite clearly do not have to be wearing blaze orange if you are en route to your stand during archery season, because you are not taking small game. If you want to shoot some squirrels walking en route to your stand, then yeah, you'd need blaze orange

[student]

The way I read it, if you want to shoot small game on the way to your stand, you'll need a visible portion of blaze orange on. If you are just walking to your stand, none is required.

BLAZE ORANGE REQUIREMENTS

Small Game Seasons: You may not take small game unless a visible portion of at least one article of clothing above the waist is blaze orange, except when hunting wild turkeys, migratory birds, raccoons, predators, when hunting by falconry, trapping, or while hunting deer by archery while stationary.

Deer Season: Also, you may not hunt or trap during any open season where deer may be taken by firearms (including special hunts, early antlerless, youth seasons, and muzzleloader) under applicable laws and ordinances unless the visible portion of your cap and outer clothing above the waist, excluding sleeves and gloves, is blaze orange. Red is not a legal color, except for those who qualify under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993. Blaze orange includes a camouflage pattern

of at least 50 percent blaze orange within each square foot. This restriction does not apply to migratory waterfowl hunters on waters or in a stationary shooting location or to trappers on waters. Times and zones for firearms are shown in the map on next page. Muzzleloader season is open statewide, except for closed areas (see page 88).

[bobbymalone]

Guys, relax. Especially archery hunters. Just throw a blaze hat on when walking to and from your stand. Not a bad idea if you're on public land anyways...

No joke.

[Jameson]

The way I read it, if you want to shoot small game on the way to your stand, you'll need a visible portion of blaze orange on. If you are just walking to your stand, none is required....

this.

[chris63]

The ONLY time you DO NOT have to wear at least one article of blaze orange while bow hunting is if your stationary.So even if your not small game hunting you still have to wear an article of clothing that is blaze orange including walking to your stand.c63

[goblueM]

That is clearly incorrect Chris, just read the regs posted above. You aren't taking small game when walking to your deer stand